Twenty Six Years Ago . . .

[NickDG 23]

Hi All,

This Sunday (August 8, 2004) marks another anniversary of Carl Boenish organizing the first modern El Capitan loads in Yosemite National Park. (August 8, 1978).

I just wanted to mention I (almost) have my book on the history of the sport ready for the publisher. I’m going to be working on it full time from now on in.

Please, you guys, don’t invent, or discover anything new about the sport, for about the next year, as I’d hate to see the book go out of date too soon.

BTW, If Carl had lived he’d be sixty three this year . . .

As for this Sunday, please celebrate each in your own way.

NickBASE 194

[QuickDraw 0]

How many of the people on them first loads are still about Nick ?

or is that a stupid question™ ?

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[TomAiello 26]

I think it depends on what you mean by "still about" as well as "first loads".

Lots of people who jumped with Carl are still running around somewhere. Fewer are still jumping, but there are some of those out there as well.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[QuickDraw 0]

Sorry.. I meant 'alive' as opposed to still jumping,
and 'first loads' was referring to the organized ones celebrated by this anniversary.

Were they organized like a (skydiving) boogie as we know today ? or was it a little more low-key/close friends type affair ?

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[TomAiello 26]

Phil Smith (BASE 1) is still alive, but no longer jumping.

Jean Boenish is also still around. I'm not exactly sure who jumped on that first day, aside from Carl and Jean. I'm sure someone out there can tell us, though.

Somehow I doubt the first load was anywhere near as big as a skydiving boogie.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[NickDG 23]

The first four off El Cap that day are, in order, Kent Lane, Tom Start, Mike Sherrin, and Ken Gosselin. All four of these guys, members of the same Lake Elsinore skydiving team, never seriously got into fixed object jumping after that and all are still alive. At least two, Lane, and Sherrin are still skydiving. Carl didn’t make the jump even though the whole thing was his idea, until the next trip about a week later, as his first priority was filming the initial event.

Of that group, Carl is the only one that kept cliff jumping, and Carl is the only one that is dead.

These weren’t the first El Capitan parachute jumps (Carl didn’t coin the phrase BASE jumping until early 1982) as two jumpers did it in 1966. Both used round parachutes and all the skill possessed by skydivers of that time. Both are badly injured from hitting the wall under canopy and also in the rough landings on the boulder strewn talus. These two jumps are seen as stupid stunts by the rest of the skydiving community, and that was the end of it for awhile. The world just wasn’t ready to embrace true human flight.

What Carl did in 1978 was bring modern gear (ram airs & piggybacks) and the ability to track to fixed object parachuting thereby modernizing an age old idea. Carl Boenish’s biggest contribution may have been making fixed object jumping repeatable. Then, he began to change people’s minds (through his films and boundless energy) about the sport. Cliff parachuting went from a stupid stunt to the beginnings of the sport we know today.

Carl, who’s universally loved and revered in the skydiving community at the time, put his entire reputation on the line for fixed object jumping. And he paid the ultimate price, first in his relationships with long time skydiving friends who didn’t possess the vision he had, and of course, finally with his life. Everything we have today, Bridge Day, dedicated BASE jumping equipment, BASE first jump courses, and yes even the Potato Bridge, all stem, directly or indirectly, from this one man.

Think about that the next time you are standing on the edge . . .

Nick BASE 194

[JOY 0]

Thanks Nick. I liked your note about Carl. The main reason Joy and I agreed to take over the BASE numbers is the respect we had for Carl. By the way, I can't remember the date Carl invented the word BASE in the motel, but Smitty qualified for BASE 1 on Jan. 18, 1981. That is when the sport of BASE officially began. As a skydiver since 72, we all knew of Carl's films. Over half of the Parachutists Magazine covers in those days were his. He was one of a kind. Didn't drink or do drugs, but put $8000. cameras on some of our heads that he knew weren't so pure of habit in those days. After all, most of us were old RW workers. Carl loved BASE and truly believed it was the celebration of the human spirit. By the way, Joy and I are going to Bridge Day this year and hoping that some of the folks from the first few years would come. It's the 25th anniversary and I guess they want to pay a little tribute to the start of BASE. Jean Boenish is also going to be there and I'm trying to get hold of a few old friends like Smitty, although he'll be a real challenge.
Nick, I hope to see you there and thanks again for honoring the first true hero of the sport of BASE.
Rick and Joy Harrison
Director USBA
BASE 38
N. BASE 13

joyhgc1@aol.com

[Zennie 0]

Quote

By the way, Joy and I are going to Bridge Day this year and hoping that some of the folks from the first few years would come. It's the 25th anniversary and I guess they want to pay a little tribute to the start of BASE. Jean Boenish is also going to be there and I'm trying to get hold of a few old friends like Smitty, although he'll be a real challenge.

So you're officially going? YEAH!!!!

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[bps 0]

Rick and Joy --

Wow, what an honor! I'm really looking forward to meeting both of you as well as Jean. I love BASE history and it will be an honor to meet some of the folks that are such a large part of our sport.

Bridge Day is a wonderful celebration of BASE -- now it's going to be better than ever...

Bryan

[NickDG 23]

>>I can't remember the date Carl invented the word BASE in the motel, but Smitty qualified for BASE 1 on Jan. 18, 1981.<<

Hi Rick,

Opps, my mistake, there are so many BASE dates & details running around in my mind right now that I misspoke. I do know it was '81.

I would really like to attend BD this year, in light of the anniversary and all, but my original plan for that weekend was attending the Old Farts Skydiving Convention here in So Cal. Yet, now I’m thinking, wait a minute. There will always be Skydiving Old Farts (as they die off, New Old Farts take their places) but there will only be one group of BASE pioneers, and when this group passes, that’s going to be it . . .

Hmmm, what to do?

Nick BASE 194

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

Hmmm, what to do?

Come to Bridge Day and sell autographed first editions of your book. I'd pay a hundred bucks for one.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[NickDG 23]

Thanks, Tom, but no thanks . . .

After what you've put into the sport, you're getting a free copy.

Also, thank you to everyone else for all the wonderful emails I received encouraging me to attend BD 2004 (especially Jason).

That weekend is also my 50th B-day!

So yes, I’m will be there, and I can’t wait to see you all again . . .

Nick BASE 194

[Zennie 0]

Quote

So yes, I’m will be there, and I can’t wait to see you all again . . .

This is shaping up to be one of the best Bridge Days ever.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[badenhop 0]

Every year is the 'best' Bridge Day ever!
Lookout, Dennis McGlynn is threatening to attend this year.
Fred Morelli should also be there.

==================================

I've got all I need, Jesus and gravity. Dolly Parton

http://www.AveryBadenhop.com

[JOY 0]

All Right Nick!!! Glad you'll be there. Remember the year we turned down the NPS permit cause the river was at 47,000 cfs and Dragon couldn't operate the boats? We've had some great old Bridge Days. I really hope to see some old timers there and for Joy and I to meet many of the folks we've issued numbers to. Don't you just love BASE!!
Blue Skies Soft Walls
Rick and Joy Harrison

joyhgc1@aol.com

[bps 0]

Sweet! It's going to be a GREAT Bridge Day. (they always are)

Bryan

[NickDG 23]

Rick & Joy,

And I also remember Nick Bender holding class on how to navigate elevator shafts (a skill sometimes required to access building jumps) and using the Holiday Inn's elevator as a training aid . . .

Not taking it too seriously, this degenerated into a brand new sport we dubbed, Surfing the Box.

The ultimate surf was four, or five, of us riding up and down (atop the elevator) while the security guard is actually riding inside searching for a mysterious giggling sound that's been reported by several wuffoe guests . . .

Nick BASE 194

[skypuppy 1]

Remember the year we turned down the NPS permit cause the river was at 47,000 cfs and Dragon couldn't operate the boats?

1989?

If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead.
Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone

[NickDG 23]

Yes, it was BD 1989, and it was the first time jumping is called off since BD began.

This was probably Jean Boenish’s toughest year as BD Organizer, and, I believe, greatly influenced her decision to hand off organizing duties to Andy Calistrate two years later.

The reasons for the cancellation, in order of priority are, the pick-up boats could not stay on station in the swift river conditions and therefore would not participate, the very high water levels, and, as I recall, it was very windy, and the air and water temperatures are very cold.

It’s odd, but none of tourist orientated BD web sites mention this fact while they do acknowledge the later BD that’s cancelled for security concerns right after 9/11. I suppose they don’t want to give would-be visitors the idea the chances of seeing BASE jumpers (what they really come for) can be dependant on the conditions.

However, the situation in ‘89 is a very odd one. Friday night in Jean’s hotel room the staff is already discussing the deplorable conditions and what it would mean in terms of safety. (The conditions are the worst ever seen, and in light of all BDs before or since, the conditions could rightly be termed freakish.)

The debate among the staff ranged from some saying hard-core experienced BASE jumpers could handle these conditions, while others argued no one could handle conditions like these. The real concern, however, is the first time BASE jumpers. In those days the ratio between experienced jumpers and first timers is more heavily weighted towards first timers. By evening’s end Jean is leaning toward calling it off, but we all went to sleep to see what conditions morning would bring.

The conditions Saturday morning are a bit better, but still bad. Yet, there is a slight chance that conditions might improve later in the day. Now is when things started to come to a boil. Some of the most experienced are howling about not being able to jump, and even some of the non-experienced are doing the same. I remember one first timer saying he had 3000 skydives and could easily make the jump. Ugh!

Then things got worse. The Park Service comes to Jean and wants her to sign for and except the permit to land on park property. Slowly it dawned on us the Park Service didn’t want any part in canceling the jumping. We thought the reasons are either they don’t want any grief from a townspeople that profits greatly from BD, or, and this is the prevailing idea, they wanted enough carnage to take place so they could shut down jumping forever.

Jean is in a tight spot. Finally, at about 11:00 AM she gathered the jumpers and announced she would not be accepting the permit and the jumping portion of Bridge Day ’89 is cancelled. It’s now a splinter group of jumpers emerges and says they will accept the permit. However, legalities, the permit is made out in Jean’s name, prevents that.

About fifty jumpers did brave the conditions and made bandit jumps to the cheers of the spectators. Many opted for the RR tracks, and many received citations from both Rangers and Railroad officials. One jumper crashed through the windshield of a Ranger’s private vehicle that’s parked near the landing area. To his credit, that jumper made good on that by later sending the Ranger a personal check for something like $1200.

And that’s the way it was, Bridge Day 1989.

(Or, at least, the way I remember it.)

Nick BASE 194

[base428 1]

More thoughts on this tangent....

-The weather has been very good to us at Bridge Day lately. What are the odds of having great weather on the 3rd Saturday of October each year? Sooner or later, it's going to rain and the river is going to be way up. I've seen the LZ under 20' of water before, so I guess it's only a matter of time before we have bad weather again. I dread the thought of canceling jumping.
-A little tidbit of info on the RR track landings. In the past, CSX did fine jumpers for landing on the tracks, mainly as a liability issue. However, the current landowners below the bridge report this is illegal and shall not be imposed, as CSX only has a right-of-way.
-I spoke with Jean Boenish last night for over 2 hours. We are trying to pay for her way to Bridge Day this year, but we have to pay for everything.......airfare, rental car, gas, hotel rooms, etc. This is really putting a dent in my budget. Anyone got any great ideas on getting her to Fayetteville or raising some extra cash to do so?

Cya.

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[FIREFLYR 0]

I've got $10.
~J

"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest"
"There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act"

[evilivan 0]

(dammit) I'm not even going but I will contribute to get her there.....

"If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation."
David Brent

[MikeJD 0]

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Anyone got any great ideas on getting her to Fayetteville or raising some extra cash to do so?

Jason,

I notice this post is from a couple of weeks ago. Have you had any luck raising the cash? I bet you could find plenty of willing contributors among this year's Bridge Day attendees - and surely there must be people who'd be honoured to drive Jean from the airport. Any idea how much money we're talking about altogether?

[base428 1]

Jean is not coming to Bridge Day as far as I know. We offered her a free plane ride, hotel, and rental car, but some additional costly items were requested that we could not provide. If you want to know more details, PM me and I'll elaborate.

Rick and Randy Harrison, NickDG, and 3-4 other old timers will be there and they are all confirmed!

Quote

Have you had any luck raising the cash?

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[JOY 0]

True, Jean Boenish will not be there, but a few of us old timers will be there. I am the last elected Director of the USBA and all we really do now is make sure the World BASE numbers are kept and issued as accurately as possible. My main reason for coming, other than the fun and to jump is to remind BASE jumpers everywhere about why the sport evolved and that the BASE numbers are really the only direct link back to the start of BASE as a sport. We just want to celebrate a little history, have some good parties with old and new friends, and of course, make a few jumps. I might be 54, but I still love the feeling on exit, freefall and opening. A beautiful cliff in Italy last June with Space and others was our most recent reminder of how great the sport still is. Carl Boenish was a special person. The most famous skydiving photographer in the world when he got hooked on BASE jumping and dreamed it could be a sport shared by a lot of jumpers. It was a natural progession like from style and accuracry to RW for experienced jumpers who had lost some of the spirit at the commercial dropzones that had started dominating the sport in the late 70's. After all, it was still fun to get scared by just falling rather than competing on how many points you could do on a 10 way. A lot of the early BASE jumpers were RW jumpers with over 1000 jumps in the late 70's and early 80's. BASE offerred the adrenelin we had been missing and all that fun without as much politics. After all, there isn't much politics on the top of Troll Spire. BASE started out as a real brother and sisterhood. I think it is still largely that way today. All I want to do is remind folks that we're all the same at the exit point and to remember the spirit that got this sport started. Joy and I look forward to meeting as many of you as we can since we've issued well over 500 BASE numbers. We will be glad to say a few words on Friday night, and just be around if anyone cares to hear a few old war stories. I'll make sure we introduce a few of the old timers so folks can BS with them if they want. We look forward to seeing everyone and hope for good weather since that is as important as anything for a successful Bridge Day. Thanks to Jason and Bill for inviting us.
Blue Skies Soft Walls.
Rick Harrison and Joy
BASE 38

joyhgc1@aol.com